Car coupler



March .1953 I I w. J. METZGER 2,

CAR COUPLER Filed May 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

M/ILLMM J ME TZGER BY A T TORNEY March 4, 1958 w. J. METZGER 2,825,473

CAR COUPLER Filed May 13, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet .2

INVENTOR.

M/ILLIAM J MET GER BY ATTORNEY March 4, 1958 w. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 13, 1954 Y m M T T A March 4. 1958 w. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 1. 1954 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM J METZGER 7% TTORNEY W. J. METZGER March 4, 1958 CAR COUPLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 13. 1954 ATTORNEY .INVENTOR W/LL/AM J METZGER United States Patent CAR COUPLER William J. Metzger, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malieahle and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Qhio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 13, 1954, Serial No. 429,513

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 8, 1953 15 Claims. (Cl. 213-77) This invention relates to automatic car couplers of the rigid-jawed type and more particularly to interlocking and gathering means therefor.

It is a general object of my invention to provide interlocking means on couplers of the rigid-jawed type to prevent telescoping of the associated cars during collisions and den-ailments and to prevent a pulled out coupler from dropping to the road bed and possibly causing a derailment.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for positive and eflicient gathering of couplers of the rigidjawed type under conditions where the couplers are displaced vertically or laterally, or both, relative to one another.

A further object of my invention is to provide interlocking means on rigid-jawed type couplers which will prevent any substantial vertical and lateral movement between coupled couplers, thereby eliminating a major portion of the contour wear that occurs in service on present rigid-jawed type couplers.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide in a coupler of the rigid-jawed type, interlocking and gathering means including a projection which extends forwardly from the front surface of the pulling jaw of the coupler and a complementary aligning wing pocket on the buffing jaw side'of the coupler head for cooperating with a projection on the pulling jaw of a mating coupler.

.A further object of my invention is to provide an interlocking rigid-jawed type coupler which can couple with existing rigid-jawed type couplers.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an interlocking rigid-jawed type coupler which can be used with a transition screw coupling to permit coupling with other types of draw bar systems.

The various features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of two couplers embodying the invention, the couplers being coupled and in buffed position. I

Fig. 1a is a partial vertical sectional view taken along line aa of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section similar to Fig. 1 but showing the couplers in' pulled position.

Fig. 2b is a partial vertical sectional view taken along line bb of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my interlocking coupler coupled with an existing non-interlocking type rigid-jawed coupler, the couplers being shown in bulfed position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the couplers of Fig. 1 angled the maximum amount laterally with respect to each other.

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the angular gathering range of the couplers when they have been displaced to the same side of a longitudinal center line connecting the pivotal centers of the couplers. In this case,.the forwardlend surface of the forwardly extending portion of lc Patented Mar. 4, 1958 the aligning wing of the coupler on the left is shown engaging the front surface of the pulling jaw of the coupler on the right.

Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating theposition of the couplers relative to one another as they move together for coupling from their position shown in Fig. 5. This "view shows engagement occurring between the opposing buifin jaws of the couplers.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the position .of the con plers following that of Fig. 6, the lock of each coupler having been pushed rearwardly into the lock cavity by the bufling jaw of the opposing coupler.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the position of the'coupiers following that of Fig. 7., .each buffing jaw -commencing to move into the complementary recess in the pulling jaw of the opposing coupler.

Fig. 9 is a plan view partly in section,.similar to Fig.5- showing the opposing couplers angularly displaced to the same side of a longitudinal center line connecting the pivotal centers of the couplers, but the coupler on the leftbeing displaced .a lesser amount than the corresponding; coupler in Fig. 5. .In this case the pulling jaw .of one coupler is shown in contact with the .front face ofthe gathering wing on the opposing coupler.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the couplers angularly displaced to opposite sides of a longitudinal center line. connecting the pivotal centers of the couplers with the pulling jaw projection on each coupler in engagement with the bufiing jaw of the opposing coupler. Thisrepre sents the maximum displaced position of the couplers on opposite sides-of the center line from which coupling is possible.

Fig. 11 is a plan view illustratingrthe lateral gathering. range of a coupler embodying my invention during coupling with an eXisting'non-interlocking typo, rigidjawed coupler.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the initial contact 'between 'a pair of horizontally aligned but vertically dis placed couplers as they approach for coupling.

Fig. 12a is a partial vertical sectional view taken along line aa of Fig. 12 showing the initial contact between the front face of the aligningwing and the opposing pulling jaw projection.

Fig. 12b is a partial vertical sectional view takenalong,

line bb of Fig. 12 showing the initial contact between the pulling jaw projection and the opposing front face'of' the aligning wing.

Fig. 13'is a side elevational view of an interlocking coupler of the type shown in Figs. 1-12.

Referring in particular to'Figs. 1 and 2, couplers A and B are shown in mating engagement and both are of the rigid-jawed type commonly known as the Willison cou-. pler. Bothcouplers are of identical construction, each comprising a head 12 having apulling jaw 14 and a bufling V jaw 16 which are transversely spaced on opposite sides .of the longitudinal center line of the coupler.

which diverge in a direction forwardly of the coupler; The head has the usual recess 18 on its forward side between jaws '14 and 16 to receive jaw 16 of the opposing A longitticoupled position. As soon as the couplers .arein coupled position, the lock of each couplermoves forwardly w" laws 14 and 7 16 have front vertical faces 14a and 16a respectively,

7 succeedingportion of this description} 1 Numeral locking position. pivotal" lever 22; which niay be attached to any suitable uncoupling mechanism is provided a for retracting the lock out of locking position when it is desired to uncouple the couplers.

recess 18'is' pulling face 27 adapted for engagementwith a am 7 complementary face 28 on the bufling jaw of an opposing coupler'when the coupled couplers are subjected to pulling ordraft forces,as-seenin Figi2; 1 I

' Formed on front surface 14a of pullingjaw 14 adjacent the outerz' end' thereof is a] forwardly extending couplerengagement with sanitation 3 projection toefiectively limit relative vertical displace ment of the coupled couplers. s It will be appreciateif 7 therefore, that vertical as well as horizontaltelescoping Extending through the coupler-head "a bolt.2 3 for 5 of the cars to which the'couplers are attached will be pre 7 l ta h e f i i cr 'w coupling to permuiem vented in case of a derailment 'In addition the vertical pling of my interlocking rigid-jawed coupler with other i interlock will'materially decrease the amount'of contour i 1types ofdrawbarSystemsQWheneVer this becomes neces-' j Wear between the coupled couplers; It will also be ap-. g s V V j a r a a parent that thisvertical,interlock will prevent a eouplef I Withinrecess'18 in the coupler head is the vertical which is accidentally pulled outifrom its'car'from drops I buffing face 24 which is disposed at an angle to a verticd V ping to the road bed and .possibly causing aiderailment. 'plane extending transverselyof the coupler and israclapted Referringto F iggl, it w1l1 be noted that in the boiled forbufling engagement with the complementary face 16:; position of the coupled couplers, engagement takes place 7 OfiJ'aW :16 0f The OPPOSiHgVVCOVUPIeY- 'fi 'df 13 between 'surfacesslfia on the bufling jaws;16"and;buifing a faces24 on the'couplerheads. Inthe pulled positioniof;

the couplers, as seen in' Fig. 2, engagement occurs between 7 surfaces 28 on the butting jaws and pulling faces 2 7 on'the.

V pulling jaws 14. n will be'observed that injboth of lth'ese positions (bufied and pulled) a longitudinal 'clearance as 7 ME exists between the opposing-complementary diagonal V aligning projection "30 having a forward end surface 32 which is'preferably curved convexlyina vertical direction (Figs. 1a and 21b). As will be seen in Figs. 1a :and 2b projection 30;coinprises verticalfront wall 34, on which is located surface 32, ,rearwardly' diverging,uppen and lowerwalls; 36 'and horizontal top and bottom walls 38 which extend from surface 14a.

; It will be noted'that front wall 34 is inclinedlaterally V so as:to;,1ie in a plane which is substantially parallel to surface.14z 2 of pullingjaw 14. Projection 30 also'includes sidewalls .40 and 42 '(Figs. 1 and 2). 'Side wall 40 extends diagonally rearwardly from front wall 34 and terminates I 'in a portion '40 a'wh ich; is substantially perpendicular to front surface 1400f pulling jaw 14 and merges therewith.

Side wall 42fprojects rearwardly,'subs'tantially perpendicu- 5 between theopposing front surfaces andl4a-o'n tliel surfaces on the pr ojectionsz30 and pockets 46 and sear;

opposing wings and pulling jaws, respectively y When a present non interlocking type, rigid-jawedco'u pier is coupled with" my interlocking coupler and buffin'g forces are appiied'thereto, as seen in Fig; 3', thefafore mentioned clearance, as atrF also exists between the front surface '45 on the wing of the interlocking 'couplenand-I j thefront surface 14a on the pullingjawo'f the'prese'nt.-

Even when a pair of myintefi 1 non-interlocking coupler.

7 locking couplers, coupled and in bufled position, are

,larly, from ifront wall 34 and terminates in1a diagonal. 7 PQrtion 42a which merges with surface'lia of pulling jaw 14near the outer end thereof, to form a shoulder 43 on the pulling'jawi "10m the hu tling jaw side of the'coupler head is provided an a'li g ning wing' 44, .which is disposed rearwardly of V 'bufling. jaw 16'and' extends laterally fromv the coupler j "bodyr Wing 44 has apocketl lti (Figs, 1 andZ) disposed near the outer lend memories receiving projection 30 of:

' an opposing' coupler during coupling operations. 'Wing 44'includes portion 44a whichfha's a verticalifront abutment surface 45 extending ina generally diagonaliy rear ward-direction: It also includes outer portiond tb having 1 frontabutmen tisurface45a which extends'ina diagonally 7 forward direction and forms a continuation offsuiface 45.'

they come. together for couplingunder extreme horizontallyangled conditions, as may be se en injFigsij and 9;,

This particula'r aligning feature will be discussed ina 47g e -i Quterportion44b of'the'wing has a rounded end g surface f which is adapted for engagement withshoulder 430111116."

opposing coupler to assist in aligning thecouplers when rear 'wall 48, forwardly fdiverging'.yertical iside walls :50

and 51 land horizontal top and bottom walls 52 and," 54.

j It will be observed thatside wall sl p rojects substantially! 2;,forwardly of 'abutment'surfaceAS pnlthewinglthereby. -l forming the aforementioned portion 44b." A rcuate 'rib 55]: is fpr ovidedflforstrengthening sidewall 51. jPocket 46 is alsofoimedwithrdiverging upper'andlower walls '56 and inFigs; 5 through 8, inclu 'plers A and B embodying the invention are shown piyotf} 11 a lly mounted at points 62 and 64, which represe'ntfthe':

angled the maximum'amount laterally-With. respect to each 7 1 other, aslshown in Fig. 4,. clearances between the projece i j I tions and their respective pocketsand between the opposing? near surfaces on the wings andjhe pulling 'j'awsf still i exist'as atEandF, althoug'h the 'clearancesjar'e'reduced j 7 from that shown in Figs: 1", 2,;and3, These clearances; ensure that bufiing stresses will not be applied to the wings and projections when'the couplers arein coupled position;

i A feature of my aligning wings resides 'in tliefin-j. creased horizontal. gathering range of the couplers: to

which-theyere applied. This is particularly illustrated:

sive, where two opposing 'COLl-f pivotal connections. on associafed ca'rsi. The pqsition shown in. Fig. 5' represents the maximumainountlhatthe couplers may be angle'cl fhorizontally and still .posi-.;' tively; gather and: couple; it will be assumed'foripurg poses of illustration thatfthecars'to whichjtheconpl-e crs;

are connected are'disp'osedin longitudinal alignment." 7 along center line. XX, whichl connects the pivotal, a centers 62 and-64oftheeouplers. flhe initial point of contact'be'twe'en'the angled coll plers as they rnovel'toward" one another for eouplingis-seen to occur; asiat' K between V the for'wardend of outer portion ib ofgthe wing 3 H I it cf'couplerf-A and1shoulder'43 on the pulling jaw'l t'of' i 1 s coupler 'B. It willbe observed that-point'Klies on-athe side of thecente'r line X-X opp ositefto that of jaws-i1 6 of the coppler's. U r i 'It will be understood 't hatg if coupler.Bjis angled horii i zontally, a smaller amountfiurin'g coupling the isishown;

in Fig.135; so? that outer' portion 14 46 of fcoupleruA initially engages side viral-1 42 of projection30 on coupler.

BQ-the; inclination of jirall' 42 will cause relative sliding j 7 between wall42j and Y'portion-idb -of coupler A, until (the forward end of the latter portion engages shoulder 5&(F igs 1a and '2b), -i'espectively, which connect end .wall 7 '43 (m coupler-:3 at point-K. It will be. apparent that the 3 f $W W 523m t m tall avfi f fll'fl g inclination of NYE-1174,21, including .portion' 42a, with respect 7 :Q62 llldfifl. extend from top wall SZ'and-bottem wall 54, 7045 surface 14:: on the pu l ngiaw f Pl lE f@ 1 V f're'spectively, adjacent the forward ends thereof to strengthi i y 7 a i .ll' enjth'ese walls f against 'verticalimpacts to whichathel fastbut-relatively smooth movement :betwe n -.the' plers, substantiallyfto their. positionglas shown: I

7 Further movement 'o'f the qcouplersgflongitudinallya v toward one another 'from-the Fig; 5lpos'ition,causejsgthje V .col plersto rotate, about their' pivotal axesf' 62 ndcouplers may be subjected inser'vice r a e V Fron Figs lq and 211 it will 'be observedthat top and bottornwalls 2 and 54oof pocket, 46 are adaptedffor ii amass toward the center line XX to the Fig. 6 po'sition, in" which the front faces 16a on the boiling jaws of the op posing couplers come into engagement as at L.

From the position shown in Fig. 6, the inclined front surfaces 16a on the bufling jaws I6 permit sliding of the latter relative to one another, thereby allowing each bufiing jaw to slide into recess 18 in the opposing coupler head. In this connection, the coupler locks 20 are forced rearwardly into the lock cavities by the opposing bufiing jaws as seen in Fig. 7.

t will be noted in Fig. 7, that the side wall 51 of pocket 46 on coupler A diverges outwardly a sufficient amount to preclude engagement between this wall and the projection 3% of coupler B as the couplers rotate to the above position; Further movement of the couplers toward one another from the position shown in Fig. 7 causes the bufiing jaws 16 to slide laterally along the inclined complementary surfaces 20a on the locks, there by moving the couplers transversely of one another to the position shown in Fig. '8. In this position the front face of portion 1% of wing 44 of coupler A no longer engages shoulder 43 on the opposing pulling jaw of coupler B but has moved laterally outwardly past shoulder 43, thereby permitting projection 39 on coupler B to enter further into recess 46 on wing 44 of coupler A. Itwill be noted that in the Fig. 8 position, the forwardly extending portion 44b on the aligning wing of coupler B is disposed outwardly of projection30 on coupler A so that upon further longitudinal movement of the couplers toward one another from the Fig. 8 position, the latter projection can enter pocket 46 on coupler B, to complete the coupling operation. It will be observed that outer surface 79 on the butting jaw 16 of each coupler has been.

relieved, as at '72, so that interference between the buffing jaws and the inner tips 73 of the pulling jaws will not occur as the bufiingjaws slide into the recesses 18 in the opposing coupler heads.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that it is not necessary that projection 44b on the aligning wing 44 engage shoulder 43 on the opposing pulling jaw in order to obtain proper coupling of the couplers. In Fig. 9, coupler A is shown angular-1y displaced from the longitudinal center line XX connecting the pivotal centers 62 and 64 a lesser degree than is shown in Fig. 5., while coupler B is shown displaced about the same amount as is shown in Pig. 5. It will be observed that the projection 39 on coupler B enters pocket 46 on coupler A, but that the end wall 34 of the projection does not engage the opposing side wall 50 of the pocket. Engagement takes place as at M between the outer edge of shoulder 43 on pulling jaw 14 of coupler B and front abutment surface 4-5 on wing 44 of coupler A. It will be noted that point M lies on the side of the longitudinal center line XX'opp'osite to that of jaws 16 of the couplers. It will be undersood that if coupler B is angled horizontally a smaller amount than is shownin Fig. '9 so that the outer edge of shoulder 43 on coupler B initially engages wing 54 of coupler A at some intermediate point along the diagonally forwardly'extending surface 451:, the inclination of the latter will cause relative sliding between this surface andshoulder 43 until the s'houlderengage's coupler A at point M. From the'Fig. 9 position the couplers will pivot toward one another into coupled position in a manner similar to that explained in connectionwith Figs; 5 throughS.

.Fig; 10 illustrates the maximum gathering range of the couplers when the latter are angularly displaced to opposite sides of longitudinal center line XX. Engagement initially takes place between theend walls 34 of projections 3t and the opposing bufiing jaws as at P. The inclination of surfaces 32 on end walls 34 causes relative sliding of each bufling jaw along surface 32 of the opposing projection, whereby the coupler heads are gathered and aligned for coupling. In this connection it will be apparent that after the bufiing jaws have moved 6 transversely past surfaces 32 and onto side walls "40 of projections 3d the sharp inclination of those walls ensures that the couplers will move positively and quickly into aligned position. In addition it will be noted that the engagement which takes place at points P is equi-distant from and on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line XX so that the couplers will be effectively gathered without danger of jackknifing or misalignment occurring: Fig. 11 illustrates the gathering of a substantially hori-' zontally aligned interlocking Willison coupler during the coupling operation with an existing non-interlockingtype I Willison coupler, which is shown laterally displaced to one side of longitudinal center line XX connecting the pivotal centers of the couplers. The bufiing jaw 16 on the interlocking coupler is shown engaging inclined 'sur-' face 14a on the non-interlocking Willison coupler as at point Q while the bufiing jaw 16 of the latter coupler is in engagement with inclined side wall 40, as at R, on projection 30 of the interlocking coupler. It will be clear that the inclined surface 14a and inclined wall 40 will cause the couplers to gather as they slide transversely of one another during the coupling operation.

It will be noted that the points Q and R are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line X--X so that jackknifing of the couplers will not occur under this condition.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the ability of the couplers to couple when displaced vertically with respect to one another. The couplers A and B shown in Fig. 12, while aligned laterally with respect to one another, are displaced vertically. In Figs. 12a and 12b which are partial sectional views taken on Fig; 12, it will be seen that coupler A is at a higher elevation than coupler B. As the couplers approach for coupling,

engagement occurs at point S (Fig. 12a) between the aligning wing of coupler A and the projection 30 on the pulling jaw of coupler B and simultaneously at point T (Fig. 12b) between the projection 30 on the pulling jaw of coupler A and the aligning wing of coupler B It will be understood that upon further longitudinal movement of the couplers toward one another from the engaged position shown in Fig. 12 toward the coupled position shown in Fig. 1, the sliding engagement between the slop ing surfaces on walls 34 and 36 of projections 30 and the front abutment surfaces 45 on the aligning wings will cause relative vertical movement between the couplers until the projections enter the pockets 46, after which the couplers move to final coupled position.

It will be observed from Figs. 12a and 12b that surface 32 on end wall 34 of each projection 30, which is convexly curved in a vertical direction, makes possible an increased vertical gathering range over that obtainable solely by means of inclined wall 36, since the inclination of the latter surface will cause relative vertical sliding movement between the vertically displaced couplers as they come together for coupling.

It will be noted that engagement between the vertically displaced couplers A and B shown in Fig. 12 occurs at the points S and T which are equi-distant from andspaced on opposite sides of the center line XX. This will prevent jackknifing of the couplers during vertical align: ment. It will be understood that even though the verti cally displaced couplers are so positioned .relative to one another prior to the coupling operation that engagement will occur only at one of the aforementioned points S or. T, as the couplers come together, vertical alignment of the couplers will still occur to permit successful coupling.

As with all other types of interlocking couplers,.it will be understood that couplers to which my inventionlis applied will be connected to the associated car in such a manner as to allow both vertical and horizontal angling thereof.

The terms and expressions which I have employed-are used as terms of description and not of limitation and I haveno intention in the use of such-terms and 6313165.

'.VVhat'Iclaimis:' a l V l l a V 1. -;A car coupler oflthe rigid-jawedltype lcomprising'a head having a pulling jaw and a huffing jaw transversely line of the coupler,

" ascents SiQflS' Dfi excluding;anyequivalents of the features shown disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline t ofthecouplenreachiofl said jaws beinginterengageable witha complementary 'jawof an opposing coupler, and

means on said head engag'eable with complementary means'on the head of, an opposing similar coupler to limit relativevertical movement therebetween, said 'mea ns'comprising at least'one abutment surface extending forwardly fromsaidtpullin'g jaw and at least one abutment surface 7 disposed laterally of said buffing jaw;

2. A car-coupler of the rigid-jawed type comprising a head having a pair of transversely'spaced jaws disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline 'of the coupler, one of said jaws having-projecting means,'extending forwardly thereof, thelother of said jaws having fpo'cketlmeans disposed laterally and rearwardly -thereof, V said projecting means being receivable in pocket means 7 on anopposing similar coupler to limit relative vertical movement between the couplers. l V

r 3. Ina car coupler of the rigid-jawedtypeihaving'a pair'of transversely' 'spaced jaws disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline 'of thecouplen'interlocking means comprising a projection extending rer- I wardly' of one of' said=jaws and being integral therewith,

said projection' having top and bottom abutment surfaces and heingadapted' to be freely received in :afcomple menta'ry recess having corresponding 'upper and lower a abutment surfaces on an? opposing similar coupler to limit 4. Indoor-coupler having a pair of transversely spaced jaws disposed on oppositesides'of the longitudinal centera line of the coupler, aligning means comprising a wing exrel'ative vertical movement. between the couplers tending laterallyot one of said'ja'rvgsaid wing including j a pocket portion and a diagonally forwardly-extending outer portion'disposed adjacentsaid pocket portion, said :outer portion having a converly curved end surface for i rotatively engaging a jaw of an opposing similar coupler I I to rotate the couplers into longitudinal alignmentduring coupling operations. a i 1 5. Ina car cou ler havin a air of transversel s aced v b V 'jaws disposed oniopposite sides of thelongitudinal cen teraligning means cornprisingi an abutment' disposed laterally of 1 one ofgsaid jaws, ,said abut- 1 mentcornpris'ing an inner portionihaving a front abutment surface extending diagonally rearwardly and an outer a portion extending diagonally forwardlyifrom said inner l portion, saidouter portienhaving a round-ed. end surface 7 for' rotatiyelyengaging anvabutment' on a jaw of 'an opposing] similar coupler 'tolro'tatethe' couplers into'lom 1 g gitudinal alignment during coupling operationa i 3 6,"'A car'coupler of'the. rigid-jawed type comprising ahead havingga pair" of transversely spaced jaws disposed on opposite' sid'es of the longitudinal:centerline' of the couplenla proje'ction'extending forwardly from one ofsaid jawsra wing extendingflaterallyof the othernof said v jawsf'said lwingglcomprislng a diagonally rearwardlyex- V tending inneri portion and a diagonally forwardly extendi 7 ing. outerportion; said outer portion including a front abutment surface slidingly engagea'ble' with a projection of an opposing similar coupler' operative to align the V couplers from laterally displaced positibnsfor coupling.

*ff7."I n a car coupler of the rigidej-awed-itype having at I '2 pair of transversely spacedjaws,couplen*aligning means i l lcornprising n projection onions of said ja'ws disposed substantially'entirelyfforwardly of the: jawsand a wing extending laterallyot the other of said: jawsgsaid "projec-"i ltiohincluding a,iransverseffrontabutment wall andside]? f m-ih 'm walls diverging generallyrearwardly tromsaidffroht WalL Q f being islidingly e ngageable 'with'fabutm'entsj on are in coupled positionfsaid means including a projection .ltend ing V rorwardly "of said j aw's fand" the r ;other; of

port ons being disposedf'rarwarjdly :ofsaidijaws.

an opposing coupler to move the couplers fromlaterallyj angled; positions into longitudinal alignment during-con;

pling operations; j

1 28;-;In a car coupler-lot the rigid-jawed typehavingav pair? of transversely spaced jaws disposed on opposue sidesof the'longitudinal centerline of the coupler, coupler aligning means comprising a "projection extendingfor -t wardly'of one of said jawsand a wing dis'posed'laterallyi and diagonally rearwardly of the other of s'aidjaws', said projection including a vertical front abutment W311 convexlycurvedrabout a vertical and upperl'a nd lower walls diverging 'rearwardly from said 'front'wall, said 7 Walls being slidingly engageable with abutments'onthe. I wing .of,a similar, opposingcoupler to move vertically, displaced couplers into vertical alignment during coupling operations.

ly forwardly extending portion.- 7 i 710. Ina car coupler-of the rigid-jawed type havingia; bufling jaw and a pulling; jaw t'ransversely spacedi on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the'coupler,

saidfpulling jaw including a 'frontabutment 'face which I 7 extends in a diagonallyforwardidirection and acoupler' q aligning projection extending'lforwardly from said pulling; v7

jaw, said projection comprising afront wall' and a pairs: sidewalls, one of said szdewallsmerging with said face L near'l th e outer 'extremity'thereoffto form an abutment-.

shoulder on said pulling jaw.

"'11. A car coupler of'the;rigid-jawed--.type comprisil t a head having a bufling.jawanda pulling jaw,la projc tion extending forwardly from said pullin g j'am said head;

having a wing extending laterally; of said bu'fling 1j a a said wingcomprising a generally' rearwardly extendingf; -L inner portion, a generally forwardly"extending'outei por- V tion, and a pocket, portion disposed intermediatefpsaidy innerand outer portionsfor receiving in close overlapping; relationship'the projectionjof an opposing coupler to: subj stautially eliminate, relative vertical movement between V the couplers when the couplers are in coupled position, V 1 said innerand outer portions havingfront abutmentsur l faces engageable with surfaces on amoppo'singsimilarfff coupler to align the couplers. during;coupling operationsj.

'12 A car coupler of the rigid-jawedtype comprising 2 x I a head having a buffingjaw and a pulling jaw 'disposed'f: onopposite "sides of the longitudinal cente'rline ;oi.;the coupler; said head including a butfing face positioned be" i twee said jaws'andbeing engageable withjalb ufling jawlg of an opposing coupler when'the couplers are in coupled fl'ppsition; said 'head having-an aligning wing 'extendingf laterally from the bufling jaw sidetheredf, s'aidffwing comprising a diagonallylrearwardly extendingjinner poh tion and an outer portion'extending diagonallyforwardl y, trom said inner portion, said wing being," when the clou plers are in coupled positiom'beingspaced longitudinally l r from the pulling 'jawofthe'oppo'sing coupler, l3. A carlco'upler of the; rigid-jawed typeYcompris'ing l i a head having a pair'of transversely spacedjaw s, ea'cajer l saidljaws bein g' interengageablel 'with"a complementary; '7 jawjofanopposing couplen'and means on said headffor I: overlapping; engagement; with ,complementarv'me'ans on an opposing similar couplerj tol sufiiciently limit elative vertical movement between the couplers thatvertial' Z disengagement oi thelatter is preventedwhen th couplers portion on one' side of said lhe'adian'd'apocket fiortioh side'of said head, one of said *portionsijex end a generally 'diago'nal- V 14. A car coupler of the rigid-jawed type comprising a head having a pulling jaw and a buffing jaw transversely spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the coupler, said jaws having front faces which diverge in a forward direction, a projection extending forwardly from the front face of said pulling jaw, a wing extending laterally of said bufiing jaw, said wing comprising a generally rearwardly extending inner portion, a generally forwardly extending outer portion, and a pocket portion disposed intermediate said inner and outer portions.

15. A car coupler of the rigid jawed type comprising a head having a bufling jaw and a pulling jaw, said head having abutment means on one side of said bufiing jaw disposed forwardly thereof and including a forwardly extending projection having top and bottom horizontal surfaces, said head having other abutment means on the opposite side of said bufling jaw disposed rearwardly thereof and including a pair of rearwardly extending vertically spaced horizontal surfaces, said projection being received between the vertically spaced surfaces on an opposing similar coupler and said vertically spaced surfaces receiving therebetween the projection on an opposing similar coupler when the couplers are in coupled position to preclude vertical disengagement between the couplers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,660 Tomlinson Dec. 20, 1932 1,989,894 Tomlinson Feb. 5, 1935 2,040,968 Wittmer May 19, 1936 2,246,406 Wittmer June 17, 1941 2,533,940 Johnson Dec. 12, 1950 2,562,203 Metzger July 3-1, 1951 

